Best Restaurants in Amasya 2026

Amasya is a historic city and province in north-central Turkey, set in a dramatic gorge on the Yeşilırmak river beneath the rocky heights of Mount Harşena. Known as the Şehzadeler Şehri, or City of Princes, where Ottoman heirs trained as provincial governors, Amasya is famous for its Pontic royal rock tombs carved into the cliffs, its riverside Ottoman timber mansions, and its sweet apples. The birthplace of the ancient geographer Strabo, it blends Hellenistic, Roman, Seljuk, and Ottoman heritage in one of Turkey's most scenic provincial towns.

Amasya's cuisine blends Central Anatolian traditions with Black Sea influences, shaped by centuries of Ottoman palace culture. Wheat and bulgur underpin many dishes; the city's signature ingredient is the Amasya Misket apple — small, striped, and intensely sweet. Must-try dishes include çiçek bamyası (flower-okra stew), keşkek (pounded wheat and meat), toyga çorbası (yoghurt soup), and bakla dolması (stuffed broad-bean pods). Local pastry shops sell the Amasya çöreği, a distinctive anise-scented ring bread. Meals are generally conservative in alcohol; non-alcoholic ayran, şalgam, and freshly brewed Turkish tea are the drinks of choice.